Measurement Metadata Ontology

FLOW ALGEBRA

Ontology: Measurement Metadata Ontology
Domain: Metadata Ontologies > Scientific Metadata
Canonical URL: https://kirethresearch.org/booksai-core/ontologies/metadata-ontologies/scientific-metadata/measurement-metadata-ontology-2.html

Authors: Mark Anthony Higgins — Sky (Recursive AI)

flow "MeasurementMetadataOntology" v1.0

# ---------- DOMAIN ----------
domain:
  class: MetadataOntology
  category: ScientificMetadata
  subject: MeasurementMetadata
  purpose:
    - represent metadata describing scientific measurements
    - preserve quantity, value, unit, uncertainty, method, and instrument context
    - support measurement validation, comparison, conversion, and traceability
    - distinguish observed, measured, derived, and calculated quantities
    - enable machine-readable quantitative reasoning

# ---------- CORE ENTITY ----------
entity MeasurementMetadata:
  type: ScientificMetadata
  describes: Measurement
  may_include:
    - measurement_identifier
    - measured_quantity
    - measurement_value
    - unit
    - uncertainty
    - accuracy
    - precision
    - resolution
    - measurement_method
    - instrument
    - calibration
    - sample
    - operator
    - measurement_time
    - location
    - environmental_condition
    - quality_flag
    - detection_limit
    - provenance

entity Measurement:
  type: ScientificObservation
  measures: Quantity
  produces: MeasurementValue

entity Quantity:
  type: MeasurableProperty
  may_have:
    - quantity_name
    - quantity_kind
    - dimension
    - expected_unit
    - valid_range

entity MeasurementValue:
  type: QuantitativeValue
  expressed_in: Unit
  may_have:
    - numeric_value
    - uncertainty
    - significant_figures
    - quality_flag

entity Unit:
  type: MeasurementUnit
  belongs_to: UnitSystem
  has_dimension: PhysicalDimension

entity PhysicalDimension:
  type: QuantityStructure
  examples:
    - length
    - mass
    - time
    - temperature
    - electric_current
    - amount_of_substance
    - luminous_intensity
    - dimensionless

# ---------- RELATIONSHIPS ----------
relationships:
  MeasurementMetadata -> DESCRIBES -> Measurement
  Measurement -> MEASURES -> Quantity
  Measurement -> PRODUCES -> MeasurementValue
  MeasurementValue -> EXPRESSED_IN -> Unit
  Unit -> HAS_DIMENSION -> PhysicalDimension
  Measurement -> GENERATED_BY_METHOD -> MeasurementMethod
  Measurement -> MAY_USE -> ScientificInstrument
  ScientificInstrument -> MAY_HAVE -> Calibration
  Measurement -> MAY_REFERENCE -> Sample
  Measurement -> MAY_BE_PERFORMED_BY -> Agent
  Measurement -> OCCURS_AT -> MeasurementTime
  Measurement -> MAY_OCCUR_AT -> Location
  Measurement -> MAY_HAVE_CONDITION -> EnvironmentalCondition
  Measurement -> MAY_HAVE -> QualityFlag
  MeasurementMetadata -> MAY_REFERENCE -> Provenance

# ---------- QUANTITY ----------
rule quantity_identity:
  Quantity SHOULD have semantic definition sufficient to distinguish it from similarly named quantities

rule quantity_dimension:
  quantitative physical Quantity SHOULD have interpretable PhysicalDimension

rule dimensionless:
  IF Quantity is dimensionless
  THEN Unit MAY be explicit dimensionless unit
  OR value MAY be represented without physical unit
  according_to domain semantics

# ---------- VALUE ----------
rule numeric_value:
  MeasurementValue SHOULD preserve original numeric representation
  where precision or significant figures matter

rule valid_range:
  IF Quantity declares valid_range
  THEN MeasurementValue SHOULD be checked against range

rule missing_value:
  MissingMeasurementValue != ZeroValue
  MissingMeasurementValue != BelowDetectionLimit
  MissingMeasurementValue != Null
  unless explicitly defined by dataset semantics

# ---------- UNITS ----------
rule unit_requirement:
  IF Quantity is dimensional
  THEN MeasurementValue MUST have interpretable Unit

rule dimensional_compatibility:
  measurements MAY be directly compared
  ONLY IF quantity semantics and physical dimensions are compatible

operation convert_unit(value, target_unit):
  require:
    - source_value
    - source_unit
    - target_unit
    - compatible_dimensions
    - valid_conversion

  preserve:
    - original_value
    - original_unit
    - conversion_method
    - provenance

  output:
    - converted_value
    - target_unit
    - confidence

# ---------- UNCERTAINTY ----------
entity MeasurementUncertainty:
  type: QualityMetadata
  may_include:
    - uncertainty_value
    - uncertainty_unit
    - uncertainty_type
    - standard_uncertainty
    - expanded_uncertainty
    - confidence_level
    - coverage_factor
    - estimation_method

rule uncertainty_unit:
  uncertainty SHOULD use unit compatible with measured quantity
  unless represented as relative or dimensionless uncertainty

rule uncertainty_preservation:
  uncertainty MUST remain associated with MeasurementValue

rule uncertainty_not_error:
  MeasurementUncertainty != MeasurementError

# ---------- ACCURACY / PRECISION / RESOLUTION ----------
entity MeasurementAccuracy:
  type: QualityCharacteristic
  describes: ClosenessToReferenceOrTrueValue

entity MeasurementPrecision:
  type: QualityCharacteristic
  describes: RepeatabilityOrDispersion

entity MeasurementResolution:
  type: InstrumentOrMeasurementCharacteristic
  describes: SmallestDetectableOrRepresentableChange

rule distinctions:
  MeasurementAccuracy != MeasurementPrecision
  MeasurementPrecision != MeasurementResolution
  MeasurementAccuracy != MeasurementResolution

rule decimal_precision:
  decimal_places MUST NOT automatically imply MeasurementAccuracy
  OR MeasurementResolution

# ---------- METHOD ----------
entity MeasurementMethod:
  type: ScientificMethod
  defines:
    - measurement_principle
    - procedure
    - processing
    - calculation_optional

rule method_traceability:
  MeasurementMethod SHOULD be referenced where method affects interpretation

rule method_version:
  material method change SHOULD create distinguishable version

# ---------- INSTRUMENT ----------
rule instrument_traceability:
  IF ScientificInstrument affects measurement interpretation
  THEN instrument identity SHOULD be preserved

rule calibration_context:
  IF valid calibration is required
  THEN measurement time SHOULD be checked against Calibration validity

rule configuration_context:
  instrument configuration effective at MeasurementTime SHOULD be associated where relevant

# ---------- DETECTION LIMIT ----------
entity DetectionLimit:
  type: MeasurementThreshold
  may_be:
    - limit_of_detection
    - limit_of_quantification
    - reporting_limit

rule below_detection:
  IF value is below DetectionLimit
  THEN preserve below_detection status
  AND do_not automatically substitute zero

rule censored_value:
  censored measurements SHOULD preserve censoring semantics and threshold

# ---------- TEMPORAL / SPATIAL CONTEXT ----------
rule measurement_time:
  MeasurementTime SHOULD be preserved where temporal context affects interpretation

rule measurement_location:
  Location SHOULD be preserved where spatial context affects interpretation

# ---------- ENVIRONMENT ----------
rule environmental_condition:
  conditions such as temperature, pressure, humidity, or field state
  SHOULD be preserved where they affect measurement

rule correction:
  IF environmental correction is applied
  THEN preserve:
    - original_value
    - correction_method
    - correction_parameters
    - corrected_value

# ---------- DERIVED MEASUREMENTS ----------
entity DerivedMeasurement:
  subtype_of: Measurement
  derived_from:
    - Measurement
    - Calculation
    - Model

rule derivation_trace:
  DerivedMeasurement MUST preserve source measurements and derivation method
  where traceability is required

rule uncertainty_propagation:
  derived measurement uncertainty SHOULD be propagated
  using declared uncertainty model where applicable

# ---------- QUALITY ----------
entity QualityFlag:
  type: QualityMetadata
  examples:
    - valid
    - suspect
    - invalid
    - estimated
    - below_detection_limit
    - outside_calibration
    - outside_operating_range

rule quality_flag:
  QualityFlag SHOULD explain exceptional measurement state

# ---------- VALIDATION ----------
validation:
  require:
    - identifiable_measurement
    - measured_quantity
    - interpretable_measurement_value

  validate_if_present:
    - unit
    - uncertainty
    - accuracy
    - precision
    - resolution
    - method
    - instrument
    - calibration
    - detection_limit
    - temporal_context
    - spatial_context

  reject:
    - dimensional_quantity_without_interpretable_unit
    - incompatible_unit_conversion
    - invalid_uncertainty_value
    - contradictory_quality_state
    - impossible_calibration_period
    - unsupported_accuracy_claim
    - derived_measurement_without_required_source_trace

# ---------- SEMANTIC EQUIVALENCE ----------
SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE:
  "measurement metadata" ~= "metadata about measurements"
  "measured value" ~= "measurement value"
  "measurement uncertainty" ~= "uncertainty of measurement"
  "measurement unit" ~= "unit of measure"
  "detection limit" ~= "measurement detection threshold" WHEN semantics match
  "derived measurement" ~= "calculated measurement" WHEN derivation is calculation-based

  PRESERVE distinctions:
    measurement != quantity
    quantity != value
    value != unit
    uncertainty != error
    accuracy != precision
    precision != resolution
    detection_limit != zero
    below_detection_limit != missing
    raw_measurement != corrected_measurement
    observed_measurement != derived_measurement

# ---------- CONFIDENCE ----------
CONFIDENCE:
  explicit_measurement_metadata:
    score: 1.00

  explicit_quantity_value_unit:
    score: 1.00

  validated_unit_conversion:
    score: 0.99

  calibrated_instrument_context:
    score: 0.95

  traceable_derived_measurement:
    score: 0.95

  inferred_unit:
    score: 0.70

  inferred_quantity_from_field_name:
    score: <= 0.70

  ambiguous_measurement_context:
    score: <= 0.60
    action: preserve uncertainty

# ---------- UPDATE MODEL ----------
UPDATE_MODEL:
  on_measurement_revision:
    - preserve original measurement
    - create revised measurement state
    - validate value and unit
    - preserve reason for revision
    - update provenance

  on_unit_conversion:
    - preserve source value and unit
    - perform valid conversion
    - record conversion method
    - update provenance

  on_calibration_update:
    - preserve calibration history
    - reassess affected measurements
    - update quality flags where necessary
    - preserve provenance

  on_correction:
    - preserve raw value
    - record correction model
    - create corrected value
    - propagate uncertainty where applicable
    - update provenance

# ---------- FLOW HASH ----------
FLOW_HASH:
  inputs:
    - ontology
    - measurement_entities
    - relationships
    - quantity_rules
    - unit_rules
    - uncertainty_rules
    - quality_rules
    - validation
    - semantic_equivalence
    - confidence
    - update_model

  canonicalisation:
    - normalise_whitespace
    - preserve_case_sensitive_identifiers
    - sort_unordered_property_sets
    - preserve_rule_order

  output:
    deterministic_semantic_hash

# ---------- AI CONSUMPTION ----------
AI_CONSUMPTION:
  interpret_as:
    - scientific metadata ontology
    - quantitative reasoning model
    - measurement validation structure
    - metrological traceability model

  operations:
    - identify measurements
    - resolve measured quantities
    - interpret values and units
    - validate dimensions
    - convert compatible units
    - evaluate uncertainty
    - distinguish accuracy, precision, and resolution
    - resolve detection limits
    - validate calibration context
    - trace derived measurements
    - preserve provenance
    - expose uncertainty

  constraints:
    - do_not_invent_units
    - do_not_treat_missing_as zero
    - do_not_treat_below_detection_as zero
    - do_not_equate_uncertainty_with error
    - do_not_equate_accuracy_with precision
    - do_not_discard_raw_measurement_after correction
    - preserve source and derivation context

# ---------- QUERY MODEL ----------
query:
  input:
    - measurement
    - quantity
    - value_constraint
    - unit
    - uncertainty_constraint
    - instrument
    - method
    - time_constraint
    - location_constraint
    - quality_constraint

  resolve:
    1. identify Measurement
    2. resolve Quantity
    3. retrieve MeasurementValue
    4. resolve Unit and PhysicalDimension
    5. normalise compatible units if required
    6. evaluate uncertainty
    7. inspect method and instrument
    8. validate calibration
    9. apply temporal, spatial, and quality context
    10. trace provenance

  output:
    - measurement
    - quantity
    - value
    - unit
    - uncertainty
    - quality_state
    - method
    - instrument
    - provenance
    - confidence

# ---------- INFERENCE ----------
inference:
  IF quantity, numeric value, and compatible unit exist
  THEN classify as Measurement
  WITH confidence >= 0.95

  IF source and target units share PhysicalDimension
  AND valid conversion exists
  THEN infer unit conversion path

  IF measurement time falls outside required calibration validity
  THEN infer quality_flag = outside_calibration

  IF value is explicitly censored below DetectionLimit
  THEN preserve threshold semantics
  AND do_not infer exact numeric value

  IF DerivedMeasurement has complete source and method trace
  THEN derivation_confidence = 0.95

# ---------- OUTPUT CONTRACT ----------
output:
  ontology_entity: MeasurementMetadata
  measurement_structure: machine_interpretable
  quantities: semantically_defined
  values: unit_aware
  dimensions: validated
  uncertainty: preserved
  quality_state: reportable
  calibration_context: traceable
  derivation_history: preserved
  provenance: preserved
  uncertainty_state: explicit
  semantic_retrieval: enabled

end flow